Estevan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Estevan
City of Estevan
Logo
Nickname(s):  The Energy City
Estevan Location in Saskatchewan
Country	Canada
Province	Saskatchewan
First settler	1892
Village	1899
Town	1906
City	March 1, 1957
Government
• Type	Mayor–council government
Area
• Land	9.16 km2 (3.54 sq mi)
Population  (2021)
• Total	10,851
• Density	1,228.9/km2 (3,183/sq mi)
Forward sortation area	S4A

Estevan is the eleventh-largest city in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located about 16 kilometers (10 miles) north of the Canada–United States border. The Souris River flows right by the city. Estevan is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Estevan No. 5.

History of Estevan

The first people to settle in the area that would become Estevan arrived in 1892. This happened as the Canadian Pacific Railway was expanding its lines. Estevan officially became a village in 1899. It then grew into a town in 1906. On March 1, 1957, Estevan became a city. In Saskatchewan, a community needs at least 5,000 people to be called a city.

The name "Estevan" comes from the telegraphic address of George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen. He was the first President of the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1881 to 1888.

Estevan's Role in World War I

Cenotaph and law courts

On December 22, 1915, a military unit called the 152nd (Weyburn-Estevan) Battalion, CEF was formed. This group recruited soldiers from the Estevan area. They left for Great Britain on October 3, 1916, to join the war effort.

The 1931 Estevan Riot

Estevan was the location of a famous event in 1931 called the Estevan riot. This happened during a strike by coal miners. Many of the striking miners were from a nearby town called Bienfait. The protest is linked to Estevan because the miners marched there. They were met by members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).

During the protest, a riot broke out and lasted about 45 minutes. Sadly, three striking miners died. It was later confirmed that the RCMP had caused their deaths. The miners had been organized by a group called the Workers' Unity League.

People of Estevan (Demographics)

In the 2021 Canadian census, Estevan had a population of 10,851 people. These residents lived in 4,584 homes. This was a small decrease of about 5.5% from its population in 2016. The city covers a land area of 18.3 square kilometers (7.1 square miles). This means there were about 592.9 people living in each square kilometer in 2021.

Different Backgrounds in Estevan

Estevan is home to people from many different backgrounds. Here's a look at the main groups living in the city over the years:

Estevan's Economy

A coal hauler truck

Estevan's economy relies on several key industries. These include coal mining and generating electricity at nearby power stations. The Boundary Dam Power Station and Shand Power Station are important for this. The city also has a strong oil and gas sector. Finally, agriculture plays a big role in the area's economy.

Arts and Culture in Estevan

The Estevan Cornet Band in 1906

Estevan offers many ways to enjoy arts and culture.

Museums and Art Galleries

Estevan has two museums, one of which also features an art gallery.

• The Estevan Art Gallery and Museum was started in 1978. It used to be called the Estevan National Exhibition Centre. This gallery is free to visit and shows modern art. It has a special collection of woodblock prints by artist Andrew King. The museum also includes the North-West Mounted Police Wood End Post Historical Site. This site is in the oldest known North-West Mounted Police building in Saskatchewan. It displays items related to the North-West Mounted Police and their 1874 March West.
• The Souris Valley Museum (SVM) focuses on the history of people and daily life in southeast Saskatchewan. It opened in 2001, largely thanks to a collection from Stan Durr. The museum helps visitors understand the social, cultural, and economic growth of the region. Its collection includes an old schoolhouse, a cooking car used for threshing, and a homesteader's shack. You can also see two of Estevan's original firetrucks and a display about mining history.

Estevan Arts Council

The Estevan Arts Council was founded in 1967. This non-profit group offers art classes and workshops. They also judge art shows and host concerts. The council provides scholarships for young artists. Volunteers and community donations help support their work.

Sports and Recreation in Estevan

The entrance to Affinity Place

Inside Affinity Place

Affinity Place is a large building with 2,650 seats. It's used for many events, including sports and entertainment. It was built to add to Estevan's two older ice rinks, the Civic Auditorium and Lignite Miners Centre. Affinity Place opened on April 15, 2011.

It is the home ice for the Estevan Bruins, a junior ice hockey team in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). It also hosts the Midget AAA Estevan Bears. Affinity Place also has a Racquetball court, a swimming pool, and a gym. Right next door is the Estevan Curling Club.

Estevan has two teams in the nine-team Saskota Baseball League: the Southeast Diamondbacks and the Estevan Tap House Wolves.

The Estevan Motor Speedway holds regular stock car races during the summer. It is the only racetrack in Canada approved by the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA).

Estevan's Climate

Estevan has a humid continental climate. This means it has cold, long, and dry winters. Summers are warm, short, and fairly humid. The average temperature in January, the coldest month, is about -13.9°C (7.0°F). Most winter precipitation is snow, with about 56.0 cm (22 inches) falling on average.

Spring is a quick changeover season. The average temperature is 4.4°C (39.9°F), and there's about 107.3 mm (4.2 inches) of precipitation. April can still see a lot of snow. Summers are usually warm, with an average high of 25.3°C (77.5°F). July is the warmest month, averaging 25.9°C (78.6°F). Summers are also humid, with about 190.8 mm (7.5 inches) of rain.

Autumn is another transition season. It's warm in September but gets cooler in October and November. The average temperature during autumn is 4.6°C (40.3°F), with 85.9 mm (3.4 inches) of total precipitation. Estevan is known as the sunniest city in Canada year-round. It also has the clearest skies in Canada throughout the year.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Estevan was 43.3°C (109.9°F) on July 5, 1936, and again on July 5, 1937. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -46.7°C (-52.1°F) on January 11, 1916, and February 16, 1936.

Images for kids

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  A downtown street in the winter

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  Water tower and ice rink

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  Water tower and curling rink

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  The law court

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  Highway 47 going into Estevan

Local Media in Estevan

Estevan has several ways for people to get their news and entertainment.

Newspapers

• The Estevan Mercury: This newspaper has been around since 1903. It is delivered weekly to every home in the city for free. You can also find up-to-date news and local videos on its website. They also publish the Southeast Trader Express. This free newspaper is sent to over 9,000 homes across southeast Saskatchewan.
• Pipeline News, Saskatchewan Petroleum Monthly: This newspaper is also based in Estevan. It focuses on news about the oil industry. Southeast Saskatchewan produces a lot of oil, so this paper's main office is located right in the area to report on it.
• Estevan Lifestyles: This is a free weekly publication. It shares stories about the people in the Estevan area and the southeast corner of Saskatchewan. They also publish NewsBreak, a daily paper with lighter reading.

Radio Stations

• CJSL AM 1150, CHSN-FM 102.3, and CKSE-FM 106.1 all broadcast from studios on 5th Street in Estevan.
• The news website DiscoverEstevan.com is also run by the radio station. It provides local news, weather, and sports updates. All these media outlets are owned by Golden West Broadcasting.

Famous People from Estevan